Middlesbrough 2 - Arsenal 1 (Premier League, December 9, 2007) Boro took a surprise early lead against Arsenal after Kolo Toure was adjudged to have brought down ex-Gunner Aliadiere in the box, with Downing converting the resulting penalty. Boro, who started the day in the relegation zone, then proceeded to control the game and almost double their advantage when Tuncay’s shot trickled past the post. (First-half highlights here.) Arsenal showed how much they were missing Fabregas, Hleb and van Persie by failing to make any real impact on the game. And Boro were finally given their just deserves when Tuncay converted a rebound from an acute angle following Alumina’s save. Rosicky scored a consolation at the death. Arsenal recorded their first loss since March, while Boro got their first win since September.

Tottenham 2 - Manchester City 1 (Premier League, December 9, 2007) Spurs took the lead at home to Man City on the stroke of halftime when Jenas’s free-kick was hit towards the target by Berbatov, and Chimbonda diverted the ball past the keeper on the line. Spurs though cannot keep a clean sheet, and they allowed struggling City striker Bianchi to head home the equaliser. But Spurs managed to get the three points, after Ireland had been red-carded, when Defoe scored after Malbranque’s cross-shot came back off the post.

Blackburn 0 - West Ham 1 (Premier League, December 9, 2007) Half-time substitute Dean Ashton gave the Hammers the win when he connected with George McCartney’s low cross.

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Inter Milan 4 - Torino 0 (Serie A, December 9, 2007) Inter showed their class over Torino in the second-half, after going into the break one up thanks to Ibrahmovic’s penalty after the Swede was brought down in the box. Two goal in two minutes from Cruz and Jimenez (great strike) put Inter out of sight, and Cordoba’s header put the icing on cake for the league leaders.

Juventus 1 - Atalanta 0 (Serie A, December 9, 2007) Third-placed Juve beat improving Atalanta with a Pavel Nedved shot from outside the box in the 86th minute.

Livorno 1 - Roma 1 (Serie A, December 9, 2007) Second-placed Roma took an early lead through Daniele De Rossi, but Diego Tristan equalised a brilliant solo goal just a minute later.

Udinese 3 - Sampdoria 2 (Serie A, December 9, 2007) Fabio Quagliarella struck a brace as Udinese came from behind to win.

Empoli 4 - Cagliari 1 (Serie A, December 9, 2007) Nicola Pozzi hit four goals as Empoli beat fellow relegation battlers Cagliari.

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Bayer Leverkusen 3 - Hansa Rostock 0 (Bundesliga, December 9, 2007) Leverkusen took an early lead through Simon Rolfes and second-half goals from Paul Freier, a penalty, and Theofanis Gekas saw them to another comfortable victory.

Nurnberg 2 - Hertha Berlin 1 (Bundesliga, December 9, 2007) Nurnberg pulled themselves out of the relegation zone with this win.

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Villarreal 0 - Real Betis 1 (La Liga, December 9, 2007) The Yellow Submarine continued their poor run of form by losing to relegation-threatened Real Betis as Capi scored the only goal of the game.

Atletico Madrid 1 - Getafe 0 (La Liga, December 9, 2007) Diego Forlan scored the winner.

Almeria 1 - Valladolid 0 (La Liga, December 9, 2007)

Sevilla 3 - Murcia 1 (La Liga, December 9, 2007) The UEFA Cup holders recovered from there recent poor form through an early Luis Fabiano strike and Enzo Maresca’s penalty. Fernando Baiano pulled one back with half an hour to play, but Luis Fabiano sealed the three points in the closing seconds.

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Caen 1 - Lyon 0 (Ligue 1, December 8, 2007)

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AEK Athens 4 - Apollon Kalamaria 0 (Super League, December 9, 2007) AEK stormed back to the top of the table thanks to goals from Liberopoulos, Rivaldo (penalty), Blanco and then Liberopoulos again.

Iraklis 0 - Panathinaikos 1 (Super League, December 9, 2007)

***

Camacha 2 - Braga 3 (Taca de Portugal, December 9, 2007)

Leiria 2 - Nelas 0 (Taca de Portugal, December 9, 2007)

Amadora 4 - Fatima 2 (Taca de Portugal, December 9, 2007)

Content courtesy of 101GreatGoals.com

Cerzedelo 0 - Naval 3 (Taca de Portugal, December 9, 2007)